WEB-MAKERS ON ORANGE 155 



County, Florida. We do not know euougli of its habits at present to 

 do more tlian describe it and its methods of work. 



"According to Mr. H. S. Williams, of Rock Ledge, the larvae have 

 been very injurious to the orange trees in his vicinity. They infest the 

 young leaves of the new growth. These they web together by a deli- 

 cate white silken web, and feed upon the bud, entirely stopping the 

 growth of the shoot. If disturbed, the worm drops by a thread. It is 

 very active, and when removed from its web runs quite quickly. 



"The full grown larva measures about 12""" (J inch) in length. It is 

 yellowish in color, with the head and first thoracic segment black and 

 somewhat [)olished. The posterior margin of the black thorax is pale- 

 yellow. The anal i)late and legs are polished yellow, with the scattered 

 hairs upon the former blackish ; all other hairs are yellow. The first 

 pair of legs is black and the rest yellow. 



" When ready to pupate, the larva rolls a leaf around itself and spins 

 a delicate silken cocoon, in which it transforms to a rather stout, dark- 

 brown chrysalis. There is nothing so characteristic about the chrysalis 

 as to merit description. The moths emerged from August 25 to Sep- 

 tember 5."* 



THE ORANaE WEB-WORM. 



{Anceglis demissalis Led.) 

 [Plate XIII, Fig. 1, la, !&.] 



The caterpillars of this interesting little moth are not uncommon upon 

 orange trees, but so remarkably well protected are they by their form, 

 color, and surroundings, that the skill of the collector will be taxed to 

 the utmost in discovering them. 



They surround themselves with a tangle of web, involving several 

 twigs and small branches, together with their leaves. (Plate XIII, Fig. 

 1.) Caterpillars of different ages will be found in each web, which they 

 occupy in joint proprietorship with a small spider. Between tbis spi- 

 der and the Anaeglis there exists the most perfect harmony. In fact, so 

 close is the association of these allies, that the Web worm is never seen 

 except in company with the spider, and the webs of the latter are sel- 

 dom without the presence of the caterpillars. 



It must not be supposed, however, that the Web-worm is a mere pen- 

 sioner upon the bounty of the spider. Both are web-makers ; the spi- 

 der toils by day, its companion is active at night. During the day time 

 the caterpillars remain suspended here and there in the web, and feign 

 death. Their slender bodies, slung in all sorts of positions, are rigidly 

 extended, and the head is bent sharply upwards at the neck, as if in 

 rigor mortis. Xo amount of disturbance can induce the insect to betray 



* The original description of the moth will be fonnd in Prof. Cometock's Report 

 (Report of Commissioner of Agriculture for 1879, p. 205). 



